Raul Castro, the Cuban leader, has attacked the US over its own human rights
failures in an unprecedented press conference, as he denied that the country
had any political prisoners

Cuba will not bow down to the United States’ pressure for human rights reform, President Raul Castro has said, in a remarkably defiant press conference in which he confronted the US with a list of its own failings.

Flanked by President Barack Obama, on the first visit by an American president in 88 years, Mr Castro attacked their northern neighbour for “double standards,” saying that Washington’s failure to provide health care to their own citizens was “inconceivable”.

“We defend human rights,” said Mr Castro. “Actually, we find it inconceivable that a government does not defend and insure the right to health care, education, social security, equal pay and the rights of children.

Mr Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro at the end of the press conference (EPA)

“We oppose political manipulation and double standards in the approach to human rights.”

The 84-year-old, unused to being quizzed by the press and visibly taken aback in the unprecedented press conference, then rounded on a Cuban American journalist who asked him why the island nation held political prisoners.

“What political prisoners?” said Mr Castro, to a sharp intake of breath from the assembled Cuban journalists. Such topics are strictly off-limits for the tightly-controlled state press.

“Give me a name or names after this meeting is over, you can give me a list of political prisoners, and if we have those political prisoners, they will be released before tonight ends,” he said.

His government insists that there are no political prisoners, and that those held – estimated by human rights groups to be around 80 people – are spies, terrorists or armed insurrectionists. Their prison cells were highly unlikely to be flung open.

On Twitter, human rights activists were quick to circulate lists of the detainees. The Miami-based Cuban American National Foundation said there were 47 people currently being held, and listed their names, accusations against them, and sentence.

Afterwards, Mr Obama said he felt the question of political prisoners had been raised successfully.

"This, I think, is an example of why it was my belief that this would be a more successful mechanism for us to advance the values that we care about than an embargo, and silence, and no communications," he told ABC News.

Mr Obama said that he had not provided any list of names to the Cuban government after their press conference - although they had done so in the past.

Yet Mr Castro and Mr Obama, despite their obvious disagreements, made it clear that they were working on areas of mutual cooperation – especially on trade and travel.

“Destroying a bridge can be an easy and quick undertaking,” said Mr Castro. “However, its solid reconstruction can prove a lengthy and challenging endeavour.”

Mr Obama agreed that the US and Cuba could not see eye to eye on political issues. But Mr Obama, who is trying to make normalising relations with Cuba one of the landmark achievements of his presidency, said that cooperation was still possible – and even graciously accepted the slight from America’s Cold War-era foe.

“President Castro addressed what he views as short comings in the United States around basic needs for people and poverty and inequality and race relations,” he said. “And we welcome that constructive dialogue as well.

“When we share our deepest beliefs and ideas, with an attitude of mutual respect, we can both learn and make the lives of our people better.”

US President Barack Obama talks to tourists and Cubans at his arrival to the Havana Cathedral (AFP)

Mr Obama emphasised that he had brought his family with him, as well as the largest-ever delegation of cross-party politicians and businesspeople, in a sign of how important the visit was.

“My wife Michelle and I have brought our daughters. And by the way, they don't always want to go with us,” he said, to laughter.

“They're teenagers now. But they wanted to come to Cuba because they understood, and we wanted to show them, the beauty of Cuba and its people.”

Reiner Mely Maldonado, 33, who served the Obama family when they dined at the San Cristobal restaurant on Sunday night (Harriet Alexander for The Telegraph)

On Sunday night he was their waiter at the San Cristobal “paladar” – a family-run restaurant inside their home – and told The Telegraph of his amazement as the cavalcade pulled up outside his eatery, hidden away in a scruffy central Havana back street.

Mr Mely Maldonado's colleagues took a photo of him with the Obamas (Harriet Alexander for The Telegraph)

“They were amazing,” he said, admitting he was still in shock.

“So humble and polite and friendly. They asked me what I recommended from the menu and followed my suggestion of steak. I loved meeting them.”

Cubans have undoubtedly taken Mr Obama to their hearts, following months of careful preparation by the White House.

On Sunday Mr Obama announced his arrival with the Cuban slang phrase “Que bola?” – meaning “What’s up?” and on Monday evening made a cameo on a popular Cuban comedy show, to the delight of Cubans who shared the clips on their phones.

On Monday he met with Cuban entrepreneurs before he was due to attend a state dinner at the Palacio de la Revolucion.

“He’s gone way further than anyone ever imagined,” said Yahimet Rodriguez, 48, a gym teacher.

Standing in the Plaza de la Revolucion, where Mr Obama on Monday morning laid a wreath at the memorial to independence hero Jose Marti, she said she admired his courage.

Yahimit Rodriguez, 48, a gym teacher, said she had come to Plaza de la Revolution to watch history unfolding (Harriet Alexander for The Telegraph)